5 Lesson 5 Weather and Climate

5.1 Words and word combinations to the text

prevailing – преобладающий atmosphere – атмосфера

average – обычный, средняя величина condition – состояние, условие humidity – влажность

cloudiness – облачность

grassland – район лугов и пастбищ semiarid region – засушливый район desert – пустыня

tundra – тундра

to surround – окружать

insular (climate) – островной (климат) moist – влажный, сырой

equable – равный, равномерный current – течение

moderate – умеренный abundance – изобилие, богатство lack – недостаток

to hinder – препятствовать cultivation – разведение species – вид, род

5.2 Find Russian equivalents to the following word combinations

prevailing winds	западные берега
temperate belt	виды растений
grain crops	умеренное влияние
moderating influence	теплое течение
species of plants	преобладающие ветры
strong frosts	зерновые культуры
abundance of rainfall	умеренный пояс
lack of sunshine	сильные морозы
western shores	недостаток солнечного света
warm current	избыток дождей

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5.3 Read and translate the text

Weather and Сlimate

Climatology is concerned with the prevailing state of the atmosphere, including average climatic values, the frequency of values within stated ranges, weather types and their characteristics, and the explanation and distribution of both climatic elements and general climatic types. Of particular geographic interest are the interrelationships of climatic elements and types with other physical and biologic features and with human activity.

The conditions of the atmosphere which determine an area's weather or climate are temperature, precipitation (rain and snow), atmospheric pressure, winds, humidity and percentage of cloudiness and sunshine. The average of these conditions over a period of many years make up an area's climate. Tropical climate reigns over 36.2 per cent of the earth’s surface, moderate – over 37.2 per cent, cold – over 18.8 per cent, dry – over 10.5 per cent, snow-bound climate – 7.3 per cent.

Because the combination of climatic conditions differs from place to place, geography is concerned with the classification of areas according to climate. Forests are commonly found where the climate is humid and not too cold for trees to grow. Grasslands generally develop in subhumid or semiarid regions where the rainfall is less than that necessary for trees. Deserts occur in places where there is so little rainfall that even grass has difficulty for growing. Tundras are found where the climate is cool to cold throughout the year.

The climate of the British Isles

The British Isles which are surrounded by the ocean have an insular climate. The climate is moister and more equable than of Central Europe. The three things that chiefly determine the climate of Britain are: 1) the position of the island in the temperate belt; 2) the fact that the prevailing winds blow from the west and southwest; 3) the warm current – the Gulf Stream that flows from the Gulf of Mexico along the western shores of England.

The British Isles are situated in the parallels on which Moscow and Kiev are situated. The climate is mild and strong frosts are rare. Due to the moderating influences of the sea and the Gulf Stream, the January temperature is higher and the July temperature lower than in any other country of the same latitude.

Its hard to say that Britain has typical weather because of the sudden changes that occur: showers from what was only a few hours before the clear sky; sunshine that makes you want to leave off most of your clothes followed by winds that set your wishing for two other coats. There is an abundance of rainfall in the west. As a result, there are thick fogs, which last for days and weeks at a time during the autumn and winter. The lack of sunshine hinders the cultivation of many species of plants, especially grain crops. However, grasses grow all the year round, providing fodder

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for cattle.

5.4 Say whether the following statements are true or false

1.Weather is the conditions of the atmosphere over a period of some years.

2.Deserts are commonly found where the climate is humid and not cold.

3.The position of the island in the temperate belt is one of the facts that determine the climate of Britain.

4.The British Isles are situated on the parallels on which Moscow and Minsk are situated.

5.Weather in Britain is characterized by sudden changes.

6.There is an abundance of sunshine in the west.

5.5 Translate the words and word combinations given in brackets

1.Geography is concerned with the classification of areas (в соответствии с климатом).

2.What is (средняя температура) here in spring?

3.(Атмосферное давление) was very high last week.

4.The climate of this region is (влажный).

5.The weather map shows how (температура, осадки, ветры и давление) are related in space.

6.The British Isles have (островной климат).

7.(Суровые морозы) are not rare in this part of the country.

5.6 Read and translate these dialogues. Answer the following questions

1.What is the difference between weather and climate?

2.What facts suggest that climates have been constantly changing?

* * *

A:What nasty weather we are having this summer.

B:Yes, indeed. Is it often so cool and damp here as it is this summer?

A:I wouldn't say so. The climate here is rather healthy. The winters are not very cold and the summers are warm and dry.

B:By the way, what is the difference between weather and climate?

A: Well, I'll try to explain it. If we speak about "weather", we mean the conditions of the atmosphere at any given moment. Weather can be cloudy, sunny, damp, dry, warm, hot, cool, windy and so on. These conditions can be change frequently. "Climate" can be defined as the average weather over a long period of time.

* * *

A:Climates in the past haven't been as they are today, have they?

B:Certainly, not. There's much evidence that climates have been constantly changing. Coal and some other deposits in such northern regions as Greenland and

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Spitsbergen were certainly formed in hot climates.

On the other hand, in India, South Africa and Australia there are signs of former glacial conditions.

A: Do these facts suggest that continents have wandered?

В: If continents haven't, the poles have done so. That is to say, the positions of the North and South Poles and the Equator have been different at different times.

5.7 Answer the following questions

Why is climatology of particular interest to the geographers?

What are the conditions of the atmosphere which determine the area’s weather and climate?

What is weather? What is climate?

Give the classification of areas according to climate. What climate have the British Isles?

What things determine the climate of the British Isles? The weather in Britain changes very quickly, doesn’t it? What hinders the cultivation of many species of plants? Why is sheep-breeding developed in Britain?

5.8 Read and memorize the following information

centigrade thermometer [´sentigreid] - термометр Цельсия, термометр со стоградусной шкалой

Celsius [´selsj s] – шкала Цельсия Fahrenheit [‘fær nhait] - Фаренгейт degree - градус

15 0C (Centigrade) – 15 0 по Цельсию

80 0F (Fahrenheit) – 80 0 по Фаренгейту (27 0 по Цельсию)

Temperature Conversion

Officially temperature is measured in degrees Centigrade (0C), but Britain and some other countries also use degrees Fahrenheit (0F).

To convert Fahrenheit to Celsius subtract 32 0, multiply by 5 and divide by 9.

70 0F - 32 0=38 0 * 5=190 0 : 9 = 21 0C

To convert Celsius to Fahrenheit multiply by 9,

divide by 5 and add 32 0.

21 0C * 9 = 189 0 : 5=38 0 + 32 0= 70 0F

Figure 1

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Fulfil these tasks:

1.Convert 80 0 Fahrenheit to Celsius.

2.Convert 17 0 Centigrade to Fahrenheit.

5.9 Read and translate this weather forecast. Make up your own weather forecast using vocabulary given below

Weather Forecast

London: Sunny intervals and showers; wind NW light or moderate; max. temp. 100C (50 0F).

East Britain: Early mist or fog, mostly cloudy, rain at times; wind N moderate; max. temp. 8 0C (46 0F).

Scotland: Mainly dry with sunny periods but becoming more cloudy later; wind S moderate; max. temp. 7 0C (43 0F).

Outlook for tomorrow and Sunday: All areas have showers or longer period of rain and also some sunny intervals. Temperature will be near normal.

Long Range Forecast: October will be warm everywhere. According to the long weather forecast, the first half of the month will be dry with some morning fog. Temperature will be above average generally.

weather forecast /outlook – прогноз погоды Weather Bureau – Бюро погоды

a change in the weather – изменения в погоде 5 0 below (zero) – 5 0 ниже нуля

5 0 above (zero) – 5 0 выше нуля drizzle – мелкий дождь, моросить pouring rain – проливной дождь light wind, breeze – легкий ветер strong wind – сильный ветер

cutting wind – пронизывающий ветер

thunderstorm – гроза

storm cloud – грозовая туча hurricane – ураган

hail – град

sleet – дождь со снегом cyclone – циклон anticyclone – антициклон

fair	hot	humid
dry	warm	dry	low
warm	cold	continental		humidity
hot	weather cool	tropical	climate high
cold	sunny	day subtropical	average
mild	rainy	equatorial
changeable	bright	moderate
	misty	mediterranean
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frosty

5.10 Speak on:

1.The difference between weather and climate

2.The classification of areas according to climate

3.The climate of the British Isles

4.The climate of the Orenburg region

5.11 Text for written translation

The only thing you can rely on is that New York weather is entirely unreliable. A temperature change of as much as 40 degrees (Fahrenheit) within a single day is not uncommon. It may be freezing cold one afternoon, and bright, warm and sunny the very next morning, or unfortunately vice versa. According to the US Weather Bureau, New York City has a modified continental climate.

New Yorkers live in a relatively damp climate of cold winters and warm, humid summers. Hot spells can be difficult to bear. During the summer months there are brief but intense thunder storms. Rains which continue for a few days are not uncommon. On an average it will rain or snow 120 days out of the year. New York has many beautiful sunny days, especially during autumn.

July is the hottest month of the year, with an average temperature of 73.9 (Fahrenheit) and the coldest months are January and February with an average temperature of 30.8 degrees. Most of the strong winds that visit New York are from the northwest.

5.12 Make up all possible types of questions to the text 5.11

Read and smile

About two hundred years ago there lived a man in London whose name was Partridge. Mr. Partridge was famous all over the world for his almanacs in which he predicted the weather for each day of the year.

One summer day he went on a visit to a friend of his who lived in the country. He left London early in the morning. Then he stopped for lunch at an inn. The inn was quite near his friend's village and Mr. Partridge decided to walk there. He was going to leave the inn when the waiter said, "Don't go now, sir. It'll rain soon. Stay here for the night and walk to your friend's house in the morning". Mr. Partridge looked at the waiter with surprise. There was not a cloud in the sky and the sun was shining brightly.

Mr. Partridge left the inn and walked about a hundred yards when the sky became cloudy and it started raining. He went back to the inn. "How did you know about the rain?" Mr. Partridge asked the waiter. "Oh, it's very simple. We have Partridge's almanac. It says that today the weather will be fine and there'll be no rain. If it says "no rain" it is sure to rain".

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